Qatar ruler to speak on row with Saudi Arabia and allies
- By AFP -
- Jul 21, 2017
DOHA: Qatar’s emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, is to address the nation Friday night in a televised speech, the first since Saudi Arabia and its allies severed ties with the emirate.
The official QNA news agency, quoting the emir’s office, said Sheikh Tamim would deliver his speech at around 1900 GMT to address “the future orientation of country in light of the current Gulf crisis”.
On June 5, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt cut ties with them accusing it of backing extremism and fostering ties with their rival Iran. Doha denies the claim.
US praises Qatar ties, calls for Gulf unity
Saudi Arabia and its partners propelled a conciliatory blacklist of Qatar and shut their outskirts a year ago, blaming the gas-rich emirate for cosying up to Iran and supporting activist gatherings.
US President Donald Trump, straight from a fruitful outing to Riyadh, appeared at first to take the Saudi side in the debate and requested that Qatar, which denies the charges, change its conduct.